Has anyone seen Ben Elton lately?

[sparkythecat]

Back in the early '80s, when alternative comedy was fairly new, and Ben was fresh on TV in his sparkly jackets, I used to enjoy his act.
Since then, I've enjoyed a lot of the TV comedies he's scripted and have read some of his novels, but I've not seen him doing any stand up in a long long time.
He's performing at our local theatre in a few weeks time and I'm wondering if he's still as sharp and funny?

[crofty1984]

Good point. Not sure he can get away with his old Anti-Thatcher jokes nowadays Then again, it's not as if the current political buttfk doesn't have enough material for satire, particularly from the left

[red_slr]

Erm, he on his UK tour at the moment?

[anonymous-user]

sparkythecat said:

I'm wondering if he's still as sharp and funny?

Sorry, you’ll have to explain.....

[parabolica]

There were a ton of posters for him at the Edinburgh Fringe the other week; sister was keen to try and go see him but his shows were all sold out.

[redchina]

He lives in Freo, WA nowadays - no wonder you lot don't see him much!

[Evangelion]

Not seen him for years, thank heavens. Obnoxious little commie st.

[austinsmirk]

he's just had a new book out- forget title (emoj ?) which I've read and was, as usual, brilliant.

prior to its launch, this summer, he was on R2, promoting it. I sat rivoted in my car for 45mins, listening to him- fascinating man, fascinating life and family history. I love his work.

[Europa1]

red_slr said:

Erm, he on his UK tour at the moment?

Erm, I think the OP knows that, and is probably why he wrote "He's performing at our local theatre in a few weeks time and I'm wondering if he's still as sharp and funny?" in his post.

[sparkythecat]

Europa1 said:

red_slr said:

Erm, he on his UK tour at the moment?

Erm, I think the OP knows that, and is probably why he wrote "He's performing at our local theatre in a few weeks time and I'm wondering if he's still as sharp and funny?" in his post.

[banjowilly]

Evangelion said:

Not seen him for years, thank heavens. Obnoxious little commie st.

He's far from being one of them.

[Thankyou4calling]

Swing top bin
Double seat double seat

Two absolute classic sketches

Surely he will do them

[boxst]

Much to my surprise my nineteen year old just booked for me and her to see him in November in Southampton. She liked his new book and I used to like him as a child (standup and Blackadder) and then his early books.

I will let you know in a couple of months :-)

[red_slr]

sparkythecat said:

Europa1 said:

red_slr said:

Erm, he on his UK tour at the moment?

Erm, I think the OP knows that, and is probably why he wrote "He's performing at our local theatre in a few weeks time and I'm wondering if he's still as sharp and funny?" in his post.

[Johnnytheboy]

redchina said:

He lives in Freo, WA nowadays - no wonder you lot don't see him much!

Last time I heard him interviewed about something on the radio, his accent had acquired a very odd twang, that's probably why.

Edited by Johnnytheboy on Monday 2nd September 20:41

[gazza285]

banjowilly said:

Evangelion said:

Not seen him for years, thank heavens. Obnoxious little commie st.

He's far from being one of them.

Especially now he has a few bob...

[banjowilly]

gazza285 said:

Especially now he has a few bob...

True enough. He's in the Sunday Times this week talking about those days & denies he ever was a raving lefty, instead pointing out Thatch was a goldmine of material it would have been foolish to ignore.

In fairness to him, I don't think he can win. The right see him as a sell out lefty & the left see him as a sell out bourgeoisie. Maybe he was a comic doing a routine of it's time?

And I can't hate someone who put Blackadder on the right track after the first series.

[Fastchas]

I enjoy his books immensely, hopefully he's writing a new one.

[ColinM50]

Enjoy some of his TV progs he's written esp Blackadder but couldn't stand the Young Ones but as a stand up I wouldn't call him funny. More deliberatly provocative trying to get a laugh by swearing. No, sorry wouldn't spend money to go and see him.

[valiant]

Bloody good author.

Well worth seeking out if you’ve never read his stuff. Each book is very different and his last time traveller one was bang in the money.